Valve coupling



" e. JANSON, JR

7 VALVE COUPLING 'Filed Feb. 19,1947

Aug. 8, 1950 Patented Aug. 8 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VALVE COUPLING Gotthard J anson, Jr; Lansing, Mich. Application February 19, 1947, Serial No. 729,637 2 Claims (01. 284- 18). (Granted under the act of March 3, 1883, as

amended April 30, 1928; 370 0. G. 757) This invention relates to a coupling device which permits joining of a high pressure fluid line without loss of fluid or formation of air pockets within the line.

The invention described in this patent may be manufactured and used by or for the Government for governmental purposes, without the payment of any royalty thereon to the inventor.

Many prior art devices utilized to couple a high pressure line, such as air hoses between railroad cars or truck trailers where air pressure is utilized to actuate the brake shoes, have been far from satisfactory. These coupling devices have commonly employed the usual ball and spring valve which are generally satisfactory when new. However, after a short period of usage corrosion weakens and finally causes spring failure. Deterioration of the ball surface through pitting and fissuring due to the corrosive action of various elements contained in the fluid may also be anticipated.

Accordingly, it is an object of this invention to provide an improved valve coupling to positively retain the fluid in high pressure fluid lines without loss thereof when connecting or disconnecting such lines.

Another object of this invention is to provide a valve coupling for high pressure fluid lines having a minimum of moving parts and which may be inexpensively manufactured.

The specific nature of the invention as well as other objects and advantages thereof will clearly appear from a description of a preferred embodiment as shown in the accompanying drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of the valve coupling embodying this invention shown in assembled relation wherein the fluid is permitted to pass through such coupling;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal view partly in section of the housing wherein the valve is closed preventing passage of fluid therethrough;

Fig. 3 is a cross sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the plug mem- 7 her showing the forward face thereof;

Fig. 5 is a similar View showing the rear face thereof;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of one of the segment closure sections;

Fig. 7 is a side elevational view of the valve coupling shown in assembled relation connecting the ends of the fluid line; and

Fig. 8 is a' detail longitudinal sectional view of a modified form of coupling.

2 V This invention essentially comprises a coupling for joining a pressure line including a valve which is provided with a plurality of segment-like closare members seated within a recess in one-half of the coupling. When the coupling is disconected the fluid under pressure forces the segments together thereby preventing passage thereof. When the two halves of the coupling are joined a conically shaped member provided in the other half thereof together with a conically shaped member in the first half, forces separation of the closure members, thus permitting fluid to pass unrestricted through thefluid line. In Fig. 1 there is shown in assembled relation a valve coupling embodying this invention comprising mainly a valve housing l5 and a coupling member 20. Housing 15 is provided with a re- ,duced diameter forward end portion 16 having exterior threads I! thereon. A threaded cylin- ,drical axial recess I8 is provided in the rear portion of housing 15 and a conical recess i9 is provided in the end portion l6. Intermediate conical recess 19 and the bottom of recess 18 there is provided a. substantially conically shaped bore portion 2! communicating with recess I9 for a purpose to be later described.

A plug 22 having an exteriorly threaded surface 23 permits such plug to be screwed into recess I8 until the forward face of plug 221 contacts the bottom of such recess. A plurality of transverse holes 24, preferably evenly spaced about the face of plug 22, are provided to permit passage of fluid therethrough as will be later described. A truncated cone-shaped projection 25 is axially formed on the forward face of plug 22. The rear face of plug 22 is recessed as shown at 33 to produce a conical projection 43 therein. Recess 33 and-conical projection 43 are provided to better admit fluid through holes 24 as will be later shown.

In the conically shaped bore portion 2!, adjacent recess l8, there is placed a plurality of closure members 26. In the preferred application of this invention three of such members are utilized as shown in Fig. 3. More or less of such members may be utilizedas desired. Each closure member 26 is provided with a cylindrical rear portion 21 and a conically shaped forward portion 28 and each is generally segmental in form as shown in Fig. 3. A partial conically shaped notch 29 and 30 is provided on the inside rear and forward edges respectively as shownin Fig. 6. When closure members 26 are assembled in hous- .ing; [5 and forced together asshown in Fig. 2 such partial conical recesses form opposed conical recesses 3| and 32. The plug 22 when screwed into recess 18 secures closure members 26 against displacement.

A suitable fitting 34 provided with a reduced diameter threaded end portion 4'! is screwed into the end of recess l8 and into abutting relationship withp-lug 22 contained therein. The other end of fitting 34 is suitably shaped to fit within the interior diameter of the fluid line 35. An axial hole 42 is provided in fitting 34 to admit fluid from line 35. Such fitting is preferably soldered or welded to line 35 as shown at 36 if such line is metallic, otherwise any-conventional connection may be adapted for securing fitting 34 to the line.

Coupling member 20 is substantially cylindrical and has a cylindrical recess 3! in'the rear end thereof. A threaded recess 38 iis provided at the other end of such member in which is screwed the reduced diameter end iii of housing "|-5..'8JSWl111b'8 laterdescribed. .-An axialistempor- .ations39 iis intesra'llyformed in the :bottom of recess iii and such stem portion .has a iconically .shape'dJend as shown at tll'inliig. .1. Stemaportion 39 freely enters recess I9 providedin the end of housing =lwhenmembey12li .is :assembled to suchhousing. v A plurality of transverse holes 48 zradially ."disposed about .the axis of ccoupling memberL2tltcommunicate between recess 3.8 and =recess.311 thereby permitting fluid Lto 'flow therethroughaaswill be explained. lThe :other iend 'of :coupling-E ll :is shaped to permitsinsertion thereof into another fluid :line 4 l and :is. suitably secured thereto.

lIl'l Fig.2.:housing ldis shown assembled to one end-f 'Ithe :fluid supply .line containing fluid -under -.relatively high pressure. .In such figure :housing I 5 .is-zdisoonnected from coupling 2% "and when so disconnected, the high pressure fluid contained in linesifiiacts against the ends-of closure members 265, forcing such :members "together whereby recess .19 .is sealed, "thus preventing esscape of fluid 'therethrough. Theclosure memrb'ers 26, when1collapsed, as shown in the above .mentioned .figure, form a solid plug having -a I conically shaped end which engages the conical bore ;por.tion;2 l :seating :itself therein to form an excellent seal.

When coupling member "2d is "assembled -to housing |5, thetconical shapedend lll of stem 39 renters the conical recess =32 on the front-of the :closed segment members 26 thereby forcing such .members rearwardly against the conicai end '25 provided on plug 22. The oamming action of :both of such conical ends forces the segment :members 126 apart therebyopening passageway 12 :so thatfluid can pass "from line-35 through transverse holes L24 in plug ZZaround projection "39 in recess t9 through holes 48 in member 2!) and finally into fluid line 4!. Projection '43.! in recess 33permits the smooth transition and'uninterrupted fiow of fluid from hole 42 into holes "24 and projection 3% functions similarly to provide a smooth flow=of fluidinto holes-48.

It is apparent therefore thatconnection of a fluid line containing 'fiuid under high pressure "can be readily connected to another line containingno-fiuid bymeansof the device'described ih'erein. .Such connection is rapidly :made by screwing-coupling 26 onto housing =15. When such joining-is no longer desired, coupling Ellis easilyunscrewed whereupon segment members "26 rapidly close thereby preventing any escape oflthefiuid contained in line '35. It'i's-obvious 'to 'those "skilled in the 4 art that such -arrangemerit would be particularly desirable when applied to coupling the air lines of railroad cars or truck trailers for actuation of the brake shoes. When disconnection of such coupling is effected, the escape of fluid from the feed line is effectively prevented by means of the segment members 26.

It-isgparticularly desired to 'pointout that the "segment members 26 and even the plug'member 22 lends itself to fabrication by the sintered imetallic powdered process, whereby such components can be made to exacting dimensions in a simple press and sintering operation thereby eliminating the need for expensive machining.

The other parts such as the housing l5 and coupling member :20 can be readily manufactured by screw machine methods.

When pressure is to be maintained in both fluid .slines .to be connected, a double ended .coupling member 44 illustrated in Fig. 8 must be utilized. Member 44 isiconstructed substantially 'the'sameas'coupling 2d,?however, such member isprovided with a double ended, con'ically'shaped, '.stem-1-like :portion :45 integrally formed :within member 44. A plurality :Of itransverse holes 46 are iradially disposed about the LEJXlS tof "stem :can be :maintainedin bothzor" the supply lines.

:From the foregoing description :it :is .readily apparent that a valve coupling 'for .joining :fiuid supply ilines :of simple and efficient a'designviis :herebyprovided. Suchcoupling has no springs to weaken and rhas a ifpassage closure member WhlChiS .positi-veiin action and "is imechalnically opened to insure passage of the fluid through :such coupling. it :is further pointedout'athat' the coupling herein described is relatively easy :and inexpensive to "manufacture.

Lolaim: 1. A coupling :for joining :a line containing .fluid under relatively high pressure to a line :containing no fluid comprising, in combination, .a

valve -housing.adapted to be secured to :theifirst mentioned :line, said :housing .having an axial hole 'theretlnough provided with .a conical itapered portion, a valve'insertablein said -holean'd adapted to .seatzin said-conical portion,:said .VilVG including a plurality of floating segment-like members, each a of said segments .havin'gzaipartial :conical tapered end adapted to seat in said conical portion of said hole, said valve having ta :conical .:recess in each 2 end :thereof, :plug .mem-

.provide a passageway when :said coupling .mem-

her is joined-.to'saidrhousing wherebyxflui'd can :flow'into the last mentioned line.

2. The combination defined in claim l'wherein .said last .-mentioned means 1 comprises a stem-like projection in said coupling-adapted :to engage -.the.othericonical recess in ssaid "valve to simul- -.taneously;force-.said valve .rearwardly while-aseparating said segment members.

GOTTHARD JANSON,- Ja. (References "on following page) REFERENCES CITED Number The following references are of record in the file of this patent: 2 333 423 UNITED STATES PATENTS 5 Number Name Date 624,624 Casey May 1899 i i gm 9, 29 Pahlow 15, 1910 506044 Name Date Yates July 6, 1920 Skelly Jan. 1, 1924 Hufierd Nov. 2, 1943 FOREIGN PATENTS Country Date Netherlands Feb. 16, 1924 Great Britain May 22, 1939 

